Easy Wood Flooring

Natural wood once reigned as the product of choice when it came to selecting an attractive flooring material that would impart a warm, homey and upscale appearance. Today, with many new laminate flooring options available, homeowners are taking a closer look at what appears to be authentic wood, but delivers the beauty at a much lower cost with far more benefits.

Today’s laminates feature the realistic characteristics of wood in both texture and grain while providing durability that is unmatched by real wood. Laminate wears much better than wood and requires far less maintenance, so homeowners can enjoy living their active lifestyles without worrying about how their floors are going to hold up to everyday wear and tear.

Scratching and indentations can easily mar the beauty of real wood, but laminate resists scratches and nicks. Because it’s so durable, laminate flooring requires no waxing or varnishing and is much easier to clean than traditional wood floors. In addition, laminate doesn’t need costly and time-consuming refinishing like real wood does. Many products now feature high-performance layering system and offer a lifetime warranty against wear, fading and staining.

The newest laminates offer both traditional and contemporary designs, from natural oaks to exotic wood patterns. Colors range from dark wood grains to warm and light tones that will complement any room of the house in need of a fashion update. Some feature high-gloss finishes to lend the look of exceptional elegance. In addition to a wide assortment of colors, grain designs and textures, it’s available in realistic 6-inch wide planks. Other laminate products are also available in a variety of plank widths – from narrow four-inch boards to wide 8-inch planks.

Today’s laminate flooring not only comes in wood grain patterns but can also replicate the look of tile, natural stone and metallic. The tile and stone laminates provide an upscale appearance but without all the fuss – cold floors, grout to scrub and cracking tiles.

You don’t need to be a pro to install a new laminate floor. Laminate floors come in easy-to-install planks that snap together, with no need for messy glue or nails to pound. Laminate can also be used over many types of existing flooring, including concrete and real wood, so often new subfloor installation is not necessary.

In nearly every case, laminate flooring simply costs less than traditional wood flooring. Today’s laminates have the realistic look of authentic wood, but without the high price tag. Laminate flooring can cost less than half the expense of real wood products. Because it’s so simple to install you can do it yourself, or if you use a contractor, typical installation costs should run far less than installing real wood planks.

So for the great look and warmth of wood, the strength to stand up to most anything your home dishes out, and a great price, consider laminate for your next flooring choice.

Green Flooring

No, we here at flooring.org aren’t talking about the athlete-knee-destroying abomination of Astroturf. Remodel.net has a new post about environmentally-friendly remodeling tips.

Bamboo flooring has rapidly become a natural floor of choice for millions of people worldwide, not only for its status as an environmentally friendly product, but because it is an extremely stylish one too!

Most people need not be reminded of how quickly bamboo grows or replenishes itself after being harvested, for this has been much talked about and documented for centuries. In fact, most consumers are fully aware of this wonder of nature and its benefits, but more importantly nowadays they know that it is being turned into numerous practical and stylish products, and they want some of them!

The natural beauty of bamboo is something that will never fade away, the processed finish on a bamboo floor may differ somewhat.

How long will the finish last? Again you have some options here, bamboo flooring is offered with warranties ranging from virtually zero, to lifetime. Obviously this is where price will come into the equation in a big way.

The way you intend to use your floor will dictate which warranty you need, as will the amount of time you anticipate having the floor in place. Heavy use or commercial installations may require one to consider a floor with a long term, possibly lifetime, warranty. If you plan on replacing your floor within 10 years, there may be little point in opting for one that is warranted for any longer than this.

Some flooring will have a warranty which varies depending on where it is installed, for example, either in residential or commercial premises. It may well be the exact same floor for either application but the commercial warranty will be shorter as the floor will receive more foot traffic in a shorter space of time and therefore reach its limit of normal wear and tear much sooner than a floor in a residential property.

Even flooring without a warranty will suit some consumers, an example might be the small business that conducts two trade shows annually and is looking for something to make their stand look unique. The floor gets walked on for about 10 or 15 days a year and is then stored away for the rest of the time.

Ultimately your choice of bamboo flooring will come down to a mix of the following considerations:

• How much you are prepared to pay
• How easy you want the flooring install to be
• What your anticipated use of the bamboo floor will be
• How long you expect to have the floor installed in your premises

By bearing in mind the above you will surely be able to conclude what is the best option for you. Now all you need to do is visit some of the online stores to see exactly what is available. Remember what we said about making a statement? Take steps on a bamboo floor to make yours now!

In the greater Los Angeles area, David Alan Flooring has done excellent work with bamboo floors and other kinds of hardwood. Give them a call at 1-800-Hardwood.

Why Wood Floors

Welcome to Flooring.org, home of beautiful wood floor manufacturer, installation, and maintenance resources.

We believe in wood floors. Why?

Unmatched Natural Beauty: Advanced manufacturing, stains and finishes enable today’s hardwood floors to come in many sizes, styles, colors, finishes and species. Any of these choices will compliment your home or office with style and a beautiful product that will last a lifetime.

Affordable: Wood floors add value to your residence at resale time, not to mention it is a lifetime product. They increase in value as your home does. Hardwood floor products are one of the most sought after hard surface flooring in remodeling and new home construction.

Ease of Maintainance: Routine care is a little more than simple sweeping and vacuuming, always making sure your hardwood floors are protected from moisture and heavy wear which creates scratches. Preventive maintenance with area rugs, floor protectors, and routine treatment with proper hardwood floor cleaner should always be exercised — improper products can contribute to additional wear, may VOID your warranty and cause failure when recoating.

Ecologically Sound: Unlike most floor coverings, wood floors come from a sustainable natural resource. Long gone are the days when timber was cut down with little thought for the long term consequences on the nation’s forests. Today most timber is cut from forests that are carefully managed to ensure continued resources in the future. In fact, according to U.S. Forest Service statistics, almost twice as much hardwood timber is added every year through new growth than is harvested with standing hardwood timber today than there was 50 years ago.

Healthy: The Environmental Protection Agency has said that indoor air quality is one of our top health threats. Installed in the home or elsewhere, wood floors help contribute to a healthy living environment. Hard surface flooring such as hardwood floors does not trap or harbor dust mites or molds creating better air quality for all inhabitants, but especially for the estimated 35 million Americans suffering from allergies. The hard surface of wood floors also helps avoid artificial substances such as pesticides that can accumulate on some floor coverings. A recent EPA study found that pesticides used in gardens and homes accumulate on floors and other surfaces in the home, but that wood floors greatly reduce the accumulation of such toxins. Another concern for the home environment is the off-gassing of toxins that results from some synthetic materials. Any of these chemicals can contribute to chronically illness in the home.

Ease of Installation: Please browse our extensive directory of regional professional hardwood floor installers specializing in new installations, resanding, refinishing and custom work.